April 2017 President’s Message & ChapterGram

Spring is officially here! The flowers and trees are blooming, and for many of us, it’s that time of year where we go on a cleaning spree. Opening the windows, pulling everything out, removing clutter, doing a few home improvements, and getting that ‘new house’ feel again.

Have you ever thought about what other things may need to be refreshed, decluttered, or maybe added on to? I am thinking about your insurance portfolio. How many years has it been since you last had a discussion about your coverages while comparing them to your current needs? I think back to last year’s I-Day when then Chapter President Dalith Wells talked about the importance of personal umbrella liability coverage and the large benefits it provides compared to the relatively small cost. I echo those words and take it a step further by asking you to review your entire portfolio. Even though we work in the Insurance Industry, like most people, we don’t have or take, the time to think about our individual needs and risks. I know I have had a homeowner policy for almost 10 years that has been on auto increase for inflation and have never asked if my coverage is enough or too much, so these comments are just as much to myself.

On another note, it was great to see so many people turn out for our March Ethics meeting featuring Kathy Carroll Karpowicz, Direct of Ethics for Unity Point. Over 70 people came to EMC to listen to a very interesting presentation on ethics and ethical dilemmas in the medical industry and how they brought about new laws and regulations. I always enjoy these meetings that shed light on interesting topics that may or may not be directly related our daily jobs, but make you leave feeling more informed. Hopefully, you feel this way after every meeting.

Our next meeting is on April 12, from 11:30 am – 1:00 pm, and will be at the Des Moines Embassy Club Downtown. This meeting will focus on career development and will include the following
executives from local insurance companies: Kent Rosenberg, AJ Gallagher; DiAnna Taylor, Nationwide; and Tanya Wentzel, EMC Insurance. This will be a great opportunity to interact and ask questions of a few of our local executives, all of whom have their CPCU designation and know the time and commitment you all put into earning this designation. Also, as a reminder, please mark your calendars for our family picnic on July 22 at Westchester Park (4901 Valdez Drive, Des Moines). This will be a great way to interact with your peers, meet families, and learn some
valuable, life-saving tips regarding fire safety with the Blank Children’s Hospital Fire Safety House. (Click here to RSVP.)

Lastly, if you have never been to the Iowa Insurance Hall of Fame induction ceremony and dinner, make this your first year. This year’s event is on May 18 and will again be at Prairie Meadows. This is a great event and honors the men and women who have made the insurance industry in Iowa what it is today. These are the people who have helped make some (or most) of our jobs possible. Although the nomination process for the 2017 inductees is closed, you can always submit nominations for next year. For more information, or to purchase tickets to the event, please visit the Iowa Insurance Hall of Fame website at www.iihof.org.

Enjoy the weather and all Iowa has to offer this time of year. Thank you for all you continue to do to support the Iowa CPCU Society Chapter!